Table of Contents

Meaningful Mobile Phone - Feb 2010

Fr. Geoff
I used to have a mobile 'phone: I used it very little - it was really just for emergency use – and I refused to “text” with it, it seemed so difficult, awkward and time-consuming, it never seemed to me t be worth the effort. All my family and lots of their friends texted each other several times a day, they used “text speak” where lots of the words are abbreviated and there's no punctuation; they are good and quick at it, and even seemed to enjoy doing it. It just wasn't for me, thank you very much.

For Christmas I was given a new 'phone, but this one had a qwerty keyboard on it. Now I am quite a good typist so I tried texting with the new 'phone and guess what? It was so easy and straightforward to type texts it was a lot like sending an e'mail, and I could even do it spelling all the words properly and using punctuation marks!

What had happened is that I had been given a piece of technology that was relevant to my life and needs; it was a useful tool, unlike my old 'phone which wasn't relevant or necessary – it was just a nuisance.

Christianity is just like this – it has to be relevant, necessary and meaningful – it has to be the right tool for the job. Often we are lulled into thinking the the passages of scripture that we read are simply narratives of events that happened two thousand years ago – simply a history lesson. However if we take those stories and use our imaginations, if we try to see them has happening in our time, when we hear the voice of Jesus as if he were in the room rather than just in a book, then we begin to bring him into our lives – here and now.

When Jesus walked and talked and taught and healed, he did it to real people who found him charismatic; something about him drew them to hear him. If we look between the lines of Scripture we too can bring Our Lord alive so that he speaks, listens and guides us.

A Prayer form the 16th Century (anonymous)

God be in my head – and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes – and in my looking.
God be in my mouth – and in my speaking.
God be in my heart – and in my thinking.
God be at my end – and at my departing. Amen.

When I get to Heaven

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small. The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale. Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, “When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah”. The teacher asked, “What if Jonah went to hell ?” The little girl replied, “Then you ask him”.

From the Church Registers:

19th Dec 2009

Emma Forsey & Hannah Berryman

Baptised at Barrington

21st Dec 2009

Anna Gillard

Baptised at Dowlish Wake

04th Jan 2010

“Bill” Bellman

Thanksgiving service at Chillington following cremation at Yeovil

18th Jan 2010

Xavier Aparicio

Baptised at Shepton Beauchamp

A Thank You

A personal “thank you” to the people of Shepton Beauchamp

It has been a year now since we moved to Shepton Beauchamp, therefore I would like to say a big Thank You to all the kind people of the village for making us feel so much at home. I would especially like to thank the people of St Michael’s Church plus all the members of the Church Guild. The over 60’s club that made us feel very welcome and helped us with advice and directions. To the Duke of York Public House – to Hayley and Paul who quickly made us feel one of the village right from the beginning and helped by delivering meals when we were ill.
Now what can I say about the heart of the village - the Shop and Post Office. A big Thank You to Su and Blu, their help and kindness has been very much appreciated. Our love and thanks to the children of Shepton Beauchamp Primary School and the may friends that have feely given us their love, help and kindness.